TURNED AWAY, AGAIN
…Mukobeko locks out Mundubile, Makebi visitors
By Thandizo Banda
OFFICERS at MUKOBEKO Maximum Security Correctional Facility in Kabwe has blocked visitors from seeing incarcerated opposition leaders Brian Mundubile, Makebi Zulu and 16 others.
Officers at the facility demanded written clearance from the Zambia Correctional Service Headquarters in Lusaka.
Former local government minister Dr Charles Banda, who led a delegation to Mukobeko yesterday, said he was left humiliated.
In an exclusive interview with The Mast, Dr Banda said he arrived with former minister Moses Mawere and found opposition leader Cosmo Mumba and other prominent figures already waiting at the gate.
“After presenting my ID, they asked if I had gotten written permission from HQ. I was shocked. I was referred to an assistant superintendent who confirmed the fresh instructions, saying anyone intending to visit the treason and sedition charged leaders must first get authorisation from Lusaka,” he said
Dr Banda said the order was new because he recently visited Mundubile and Zulu without any letter of authorisation from Lusaka.
“The decision sparked anger among visitors, mostly women who had travelled from far, who raised their voices before I helped calm the situation. I’m very hurt. It was embarrassing in front of many people at the prison gate. The law allows senior citizens to visit inmates to check how they are coping, encourage and pray with them. I shouldn’t be treated like this in my own country,” Dr Banda, a former Kapoche member of Parliament, said.
He described the charges against the opposition leaders as unfair and called for political tolerance.
In a separate interview with The Mast, lawyer Sakwiba Sikota, who is representing the detainees, condemned the restriction, describing it as discriminatory and unconstitutional.
“This is terribly unfair. All other inmates are visited without restrictions. The Constitution allows all inmates to be visited by relatives and friends without any form of discrimination,” Sikota said.
“These are concerns raised by the EU [European Union] in its resolutions, but instead of addressing them they are coming up with more draconian issues. So, if someone is coming from Luapula, they must bypass Kabwe, come to Lusaka, book a hotel whilst waiting for permission and then travel back to Kabwe. It is absolutely ridiculous,” he said.
Sikota accused the State of stalling court proceedings for lack of evidence.
“The DPP is on record, in fact in your paper The Mast, that they are still investigating. This is wrong and is why the EU and international law bodies have raised the flag,” he said.
Sikota prayed that the State would reconsider the issue and allow justice to prevail.
Zambia Correctional Service head of public relations Cornelius Mwanza promised to comment on the matter after a meeting.
